Thousands of fake unemployment claims discovered

Oklahoma's unemployment a gency s a i d i t has d i s c o v e r e d m o r e t h a n 3,800 fictitious claims since mid-March.

T h e O k l a h o m a E m p l o y m e n t S e c u r i t y Commission is also reviewi n g h u n d r e d s o f o t h e r suspicious filings, i t said Wednesday. False claims can bog down l egitimate efforts to request benefits.

“We a r e h e a r i n g f r o m c l a i mants b l o c k e d f r o m f i l i ng f or unemployment benefits because a cl ai m i n their name has already b e e n s u b m i t t e d , ” s a i d OESC Executive Director R o b i n R o b e r s o n . “F o r individuals who lost their j o b d u e t o t h e o i l c r i s i s o r C O V I D - 1 9 r e l a t e d b u s i n e s s c l o s u r e s , d i s - covering their identity has been used t o f i l e a bogus u n e m p l o y m e n t c l a i m o nl y a d d s t o t h e d e v a s - t at i on our neighbors ar e experiencing.”

Oklahomans who believe a fraudulent claim has been filed using their personal i nformation are asked to email OESC at fraud@oesc. state.ok.us.

Under normal circums t a nces , Roberson s a i d, bogus claims are usually identified quickly.

“An employer has 10 days to respond to notice of an unemployment claim filed against the business before the claim is adjudicated and eligibility i s determined. That's still the process," she said. "Now, a spike in bogus claims is resulting in a legitimate claimant learni ng they're unable to file because someone jumped ahead of them in the process using their identity.”

I n man y c a s e s , t h e s e fraudulent claims are for e mployees who a r e s t i l l working when the business receives the claim notice.